Members of a fix-it- yourself bicycle workshop based at Jackson’s Corner had a wheely good time at this year’s Pride of Reading awards ceremony after collecting the Healthy Lifestyle gong.

In the saddle for more than two years now, the Reading Bicycle Kitchen (RBK) has more than 300 volunteers and runs bicycle repair workshops three evenings a week and on Saturdays to help cyclists carry out their own repairs.

After picking up the award celebrating organisations promoting a healthy lifestyle, Lucille Starkey – one of the workshop’s five directors – said: “It feels wonderful [to have won the award.

“There’s a misconception that we’re just about cycling and getting people healthy through riding bikes but we’re a voluntary group and volunteering is a healthy thing to do too.”

Among the hundreds of volunteers, some come along every week and regularly offer advice to visitors, while others may be seen just once a year to help with big events - but all of them work to make cycling easier in Reading.

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RBK was nominated by Central Reading’s Annalisa Cavallini who said: “RBK gives the public access to workstands and good quality tools, along with experienced mechanics to help them do everything on their bike, from simple maintenance to a complete rebuild.”

Second-hand bicycles and used/new parts are also on sale.

And bike rides and other events, as well as courses and private group tuition, are also organised to encourage people to cycle and maintain their bikes, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.